Comments on: Donald Trump Continues to Question Legitimacy of Barack Obama’s Birth Certificatehttp://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/2011/04/donald-trump-continues-to-question-legitimacy-of-barack-obamas-birth-certificate/
Keeping current with issues that matter most in Hawaii.Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:30:25 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0By: Staffhttp://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/2011/04/donald-trump-continues-to-question-legitimacy-of-barack-obamas-birth-certificate/comment-page-1/#comment-5839
StaffMon, 09 May 2011 18:24:17 +0000http://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/?p=285#comment-5839Hi Argus,
Mahalo for joining the conversation. As I am sure you are now aware, Obama has requested and released the copy of the long form birth certificate. The reason we asked "what good would requesting a long form copy do?" was because we (correctly) anticipated that even if Obama did this, there would be people who continued to claim it was a fake, as they did with the short form certificate. Hopefully the issue can be put to rest now that the long form has been released, but I suspect there will always be conspiracy theorists and those who doubt the president's place of birth.Hi Argus,

Mahalo for joining the conversation. As I am sure you are now aware, Obama has requested and released the copy of the long form birth certificate. The reason we asked “what good would requesting a long form copy do?” was because we (correctly) anticipated that even if Obama did this, there would be people who continued to claim it was a fake, as they did with the short form certificate. Hopefully the issue can be put to rest now that the long form has been released, but I suspect there will always be conspiracy theorists and those who doubt the president’s place of birth.

]]>By: Argushttp://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/2011/04/donald-trump-continues-to-question-legitimacy-of-barack-obamas-birth-certificate/comment-page-1/#comment-5794
ArgusSat, 23 Apr 2011 17:46:54 +0000http://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/?p=285#comment-5794My first visit to your "journal" and the following seems to represent an attempt (albeit somewhat tepid) at some rather refreshing journalistic candor given the "head-in-the-sand" approach most media have taken with this issue...
"You are correct in that, with regard to Statute 338-13, Obama can request a certified copy of the certificate...As such, Obama and perhaps his immediate family members are the only ones who can legally request the certified copy. And even then, it will be a copy."
But why do you, at this point, start to pull your journalistic punches?...
"As for the Attorney General’s conclusion, it is true that the long form cannot be released to just anybody..."
Duh? I mean really. Duh? That statement from the Att'y General spokesperson is about as deceptive and obfuscatory an observation as one could muster in a transparent attempt to tip-toe around the real issue. Here it is, again, as reported this time by Michael Isikoff, "investigative national correspondent" for NBC News...and you better "parse" these words, big time...
"But Wisch, the spokesman for the attorney general's office, said state law does not in fact permit the release of 'vital records,' including an original 'record of live birth' — even to the individual whose birth it records."
OF COURSE you can't release the ACTUAL vital record itself to ANYONE. But what about a "photocopy" of that record?
Isikoff continues...and documents Wisch's inept attempt to pre-empt the begged question (well, to a REAL journalist anyway)...
'It's a Department of Health record and it can't be released to anybody,' he said. Nor do state laws have any provision that authorizes such records to be photocopied, Wisch said."
What absolute balderdash!...and clearly debunked by the unambigious provisions of Hawaii Statute §338-13, Certified copies...
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol06_ch0321-0344/HRS0338/HRS_0338-0013.htm
As to your...
"...so what good would requesting a long form copy do?"
"Truth, fairness and accuracy" are your stated guidelines, you shouldn't have to ponder that question.My first visit to your “journal” and the following seems to represent an attempt (albeit somewhat tepid) at some rather refreshing journalistic candor given the “head-in-the-sand” approach most media have taken with this issue…

“You are correct in that, with regard to Statute 338-13, Obama can request a certified copy of the certificate…As such, Obama and perhaps his immediate family members are the only ones who can legally request the certified copy. And even then, it will be a copy.”

But why do you, at this point, start to pull your journalistic punches?…

“As for the Attorney General’s conclusion, it is true that the long form cannot be released to just anybody…”

Duh? I mean really. Duh? That statement from the Att’y General spokesperson is about as deceptive and obfuscatory an observation as one could muster in a transparent attempt to tip-toe around the real issue. Here it is, again, as reported this time by Michael Isikoff, “investigative national correspondent” for NBC News…and you better “parse” these words, big time…

“But Wisch, the spokesman for the attorney general’s office, said state law does not in fact permit the release of ‘vital records,’ including an original ‘record of live birth’ — even to the individual whose birth it records.”

OF COURSE you can’t release the ACTUAL vital record itself to ANYONE. But what about a “photocopy” of that record?

“Truth, fairness and accuracy” are your stated guidelines, you shouldn’t have to ponder that question.

]]>By: Don O'Reillyhttp://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/2011/04/donald-trump-continues-to-question-legitimacy-of-barack-obamas-birth-certificate/comment-page-1/#comment-5775
Don O'ReillyFri, 15 Apr 2011 05:54:56 +0000http://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/?p=285#comment-5775Trump's "investigators" will find nothing new. These birther clowns are just plain simpletons who attempt to distract us from the real issues, many of which were created or neglected by the Bush administration.Trump’s “investigators” will find nothing new. These birther clowns are just plain simpletons who attempt to distract us from the real issues, many of which were created or neglected by the Bush administration.
]]>By: Allan Gabrielhttp://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/2011/04/donald-trump-continues-to-question-legitimacy-of-barack-obamas-birth-certificate/comment-page-1/#comment-5774
Allan GabrielThu, 14 Apr 2011 22:15:16 +0000http://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/?p=285#comment-5774Max: It's even easier to post a faceless response to an article and question the integrity and work of the writer who posted what I think is a very well written (and objective) piece on a controversial subject that should be investigated. All issues regarding our government should be scrutinized across party lines. I have a feeling that you're words and thoughts would be vastly different if it were George Bush's name in this article as opposed to Obama. I'm sure your opinion came from whatever liberal news source you stick to, and you choose to shoot it off any chance you see/read anything that might bring that biased opinion to question. Honestly I'm tired of all conservatives and democrats who LAZILY blog or respond on the internet with demeaning and hateful chatter just because they're too insecure to question their regurgitated opinion.Max: It’s even easier to post a faceless response to an article and question the integrity and work of the writer who posted what I think is a very well written (and objective) piece on a controversial subject that should be investigated. All issues regarding our government should be scrutinized across party lines. I have a feeling that you’re words and thoughts would be vastly different if it were George Bush’s name in this article as opposed to Obama. I’m sure your opinion came from whatever liberal news source you stick to, and you choose to shoot it off any chance you see/read anything that might bring that biased opinion to question. Honestly I’m tired of all conservatives and democrats who LAZILY blog or respond on the internet with demeaning and hateful chatter just because they’re too insecure to question their regurgitated opinion.
]]>By: Staffhttp://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/2011/04/donald-trump-continues-to-question-legitimacy-of-barack-obamas-birth-certificate/comment-page-1/#comment-5769
StaffThu, 14 Apr 2011 00:37:27 +0000http://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/?p=285#comment-5769Thanks for your thoughts, Max. The point is to invite conversation about issues relevant to Hawaii, so we do appreciate you taking part and we welcome a diversity of perspectives and discussion. You are correct in that, with regard to Statute 338-13, Obama can request a certified <em>copy</em> of the certificate. As for the Attorney General's conclusion, it is true that the long form cannot be released to just anybody. The law states that it "prohibits the release of a certified birth certificate to persons who do not have a tangible interest in the vital record". As such, Obama and perhaps his immediate family members are the only ones who can legally request the certified copy. And even then, it will be a <em>copy</em>. Both Obama and FactCheck.org have already scanned and shared his short form birth certificate, so what good would requesting a long form copy do? Will this satisfy Birthers? Surely, they will still question its legitimacy, as it will be a copy.Thanks for your thoughts, Max. The point is to invite conversation about issues relevant to Hawaii, so we do appreciate you taking part and we welcome a diversity of perspectives and discussion. You are correct in that, with regard to Statute 338-13, Obama can request a certified copy of the certificate. As for the Attorney General’s conclusion, it is true that the long form cannot be released to just anybody. The law states that it “prohibits the release of a certified birth certificate to persons who do not have a tangible interest in the vital record”. As such, Obama and perhaps his immediate family members are the only ones who can legally request the certified copy. And even then, it will be a copy. Both Obama and FactCheck.org have already scanned and shared his short form birth certificate, so what good would requesting a long form copy do? Will this satisfy Birthers? Surely, they will still question its legitimacy, as it will be a copy.
]]>By: Max Le Comptehttp://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/2011/04/donald-trump-continues-to-question-legitimacy-of-barack-obamas-birth-certificate/comment-page-1/#comment-5766
Max Le CompteWed, 13 Apr 2011 13:52:39 +0000http://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com/?p=285#comment-5766You and the AG are mistaken one one point. The long form can be released to the registrant on request. See Hawaii Revised Statute 338-13.
It's astonishing what a lousy job the press has done explaining this case to the public. Don't blame the Birthers. The news media's laziness is what has blown this non-issue up into a major controversy. You could have double-checked the AG's conclusion. But it vwas easier, cheaper and faster to just take him at his word, wasn't it?
It took me four minutes to find the statute that flatly contradicts what he said..
What is the point of your profession, anyway?You and the AG are mistaken one one point. The long form can be released to the registrant on request. See Hawaii Revised Statute 338-13.

It’s astonishing what a lousy job the press has done explaining this case to the public. Don’t blame the Birthers. The news media’s laziness is what has blown this non-issue up into a major controversy. You could have double-checked the AG’s conclusion. But it vwas easier, cheaper and faster to just take him at his word, wasn’t it?

It took me four minutes to find the statute that flatly contradicts what he said..